Transferring video from the camcorder to your computer:
This is done with FireWire. We know you have an Apple Macintosh because FinalCut is Mac-only. So we know you have a FireWire port. What would help is knowing what kind of Mac it is and what version Operating System you are running. Also, the FireWire cable is not included in the box with the camera, so you would need to buy one separately. 4-pin camera side; 6-pin computer side. FireWire, IEEE1394 and I.Link are all the same thing. The FireWire port is marked "DV" and is next to the USB port. The USB port is used ONLY to transfer stills.
In FCE's preferences, what do you have? Have you installed the Apple Intermediate Codec?
The computer will not "do anything when I connected it with Final Cut Express not opened". When the cabling is right and FCE is configured properly, you will use FCE to import the HD footage. The computer will not mount the camera or beep or provide you a dialog box that they are connected. None do.
Connecting to your HDTV:
Which connections are you using on your HDTV? Which connections are you using on the camera?
Assuming you are using the cable that came with the camera and it has Yellow (video)/red (right audio)/white (left audio) RCA connectors, and you are matching to the TV's composite Yellow/red/white RCA connectors, you need to select DV (not HDV) VCR in the camera menuing through the LCD panel. This will be standard definition playback of the footage in your camera.
If you are using the component connectors - Red-Green-Blue (all are video) and you are matching to the TV's Component RCA connectors, you need to select HDV (not DV) VCR in the camera menuing through the LCD panel. Note that the component video is VIDEO only - you will need the red and white connectors from the composite cable to get stereo audio from the camera to the TV. This will be in 1080i high def - presuming you captured it that way.
If you are using the HDMI connector, then that is a single cable from the camera to the HDTV for audio and video. This will be in 1080i high def - presuming you captured it that way. I believe that needs to be selected in the camera menuing as well.
In any case, the correct TV input needs to be selected on the TV, too...
If you can play back the footage on the camera on it's LCD panel, then you *should* be able to playback on a TV and transfer to a computer.
I'll check my settings on FinalCut Pro later, but let's at least get this playing on your TV first... baby steps...
I spent months trying to figure out what camera to buy. I researched this website and it's forums up and down, as well as others, and I was finally convinced by users on this forum that Sony Handycam HDR-HC7 was the one for me. The main argument was that, unlike the hard drive version I initially wanted, it will be compatible with Final Cut Express HD.
So, I finally spend more than a thousand dollars on it, install my copy of FCE HD that's been sitting around, shoot some footage, plug in the camera into the computer and... nothing. I messed with the various settings in final cut for hours and still it told me that there was nothing connected to my computer. The computer itself didn't even do anything when I connected it with Final Cut Express not opened.
So, what the F is going on? Am I doing something wrong, or did I waste my money on a camera that does not work with my computer?
Furthermore (on a side note), I tried to hook it up to my HDTV to watch the footage and couldn't get it to work. Does any one know which cable to use?
Sorry for all the (possibly stupid) questions, but I am just upset that my brand new HD recorder is only allowing me to watch videos I shoot on it's 2 inch screen.
Please help me!!! Thanks.

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